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Can You Go Overboard With Kindness?

This past weekend I had a bunch of charitable things I wanted to do. I took food to the animal shelter, I bought sweaters and a couple of sleeping bags to donate to the homeless, and I bought someone's breakfast at the drive-thru. On my way into the good-will shop I saw a couple of young teenagers huddled together; a boy and a girl, no more than 14 or 15. The girl had her head on the boy's shoulder and they were clinging to each other. No one paid them any attention. On my way out, I saw them still sitting there. I started to walk to my car but thought, 'No. What if these poor kids need something? What if they've run away and have nowhere to go? What if they're hungry?'     Imagining all sorts of awful scenarios I turned around and walked towards them, very proud of myself for my ... Read Full Story >>

Spontaneous Dog Therapy

Two days ago, in the pouring rain, a young man was yelling into his cell phone as he was approaching the horse trail where I was walking with my two Great Pyrenees dogs and Yellow Labrador.  Kailash, my biggest dog, wanted to approach him. But, since the man was so engrossed in the angry conversation, I did not want to come up behind and startle him. We just stood silently sending unconditional love as he walked on.    After returning home with the Pyrenees and Lab, I headed back out with my two Golden Retrievers. Down on the trail we found the young man bent over, holding onto the horse railing.   I asked if he was okay. He said he was frustrated. We talked and I suggested he pet the dogs to help him feel better. I told him about oxytocin, the hormone released by stroking a dog, how it calmed the brain and ... Read Full Story >>

A Double Act of Kindness

I had the opportunity to help two people today.

A young lady had parked her car in a no parking zone near the Anna Nagar roundabout in Chennai, India.  She was upset and was anxiously asking people what to do because the wheel of her car had been locked with a special lock so that she could not drive it. 

She would have to pay a fine to get the lock removed but she seemed to be very scared of dealing with the police.  I accompanied her to a police van parked a little way away and dealt with the police officer on her behalf.  I paid the fine of Rs.150 on her behalf and she reimbursed me later.  She was so relieved to be able to drive her car off again and thanked me several times. 

Later during the day, I came across a young poor couple who were trying to deposit a check at the bank where I have an account.  They had been given a check for Rs. 6,000 by the government which is given to new mothers.  They appeared confused and were unable to fill out the forms.  I helped them with that I hope I eased some of their confusion. 
 

Taking the Extra Step to 'Pay-it-Forward'

I wanted to do a random act of kindness for my friend’s birthday, so on Friday I went to Walmart to carry out my gift to her because I think people who shop there do so to save money and could use a gift. My gift in honor of her birthday is a birthday cake!  I selected a cupcake birthday cake for which the recipient of the gift can pick any design they wish. My plan is for the next person who walks up to the bakery counter to purchase a cake to be told that someone has anonymously paid for their cake, and for them to then receive the receipt along with my handwritten message explaining the gift along with a Smile Card attached. It took some doing/convincing!  I had to speak to 2 members of the management and make 2 trips to the store.  I was turned down the first time ... Read Full Story >>

Kindness Cookies From A Conference

I'm attending a conference at a hotel this week. The hotel provides a continental breakfast as well as an afternoon snack selection.  When our session ended today I noticed there were still some cookies left. Knowing that the way home would take me through an area where there are homeless people I was inspired to pack up some of the extra cookies in napkins and take them with me to give away.     Granted, cookies are not the healthiest food but they are an indulgence I imagine few homeless people get to enjoy. And these cookies were really good!   I gave two to a homeless gentlemen, left two neatly wrapped on top of a container in another public place where I often see homeless people, and have two more with me to give away on the way back in tomorrow.   It's an idea you might consider if you happen to be staying at a ... Read Full Story >>

A Quick Return

 
About a week ago I was in a local supermarket and a gentleman was attempting to open a plastic bag to put some fruit into it. I had a feeling he wasn't the one who generally did the shopping in his family, so I pulled another bag off the dispenser, opened it, let him fill it, and handed it to him. He gave me the other bag, smiled, and said, "Thanks!"
 
Earlier today I was in an unfamiliar grocery store. I had my hands full and couldn't see where the plastic bags were located. Before I knew it an elderly lady tore a bag off, opened it, and told me to stick my produce in!
 
I met her again going through the checkout and told her that her good deed would be returned very soon as mine had taken less than a week.  
 
We both chuckled and went our separate ways.
 

Passport To Europe

Someone I work with was asked to go to Europe to sing with her church choir! 

Kind Words Calm Mother and Child

One day I was shopping with my child after work to pick up supplies needed for an employee celebration. I was exhausted and wanted to get in and out quickly.

My child was tired and cranky and wanted out of the shopping cart. She was grabbing for every item we passed. I was losing my patience and temper when an elderly woman came over to us. She took my child's hand, and said, "what a lovely child."

My little girl was quiet immediately. The woman looked at me. She had an angelic smile and then said, "They are so wonderful at this age." At once I felt peaceful and in control of the situation.

After she walked away, I found a snack that pleased us and we had a pleasant shopping trip. That one moment of someone reminding me what a treasure I had turned my whole attitude around and made my shopping trip so much easier.

Extra Joy In Kinder Eggs

I was in a supermarket in Lithuania, where I live, when I saw a lady looking confused. she was looking for something to buy for her grandchildren. 

I was buying Kinder Joy eggs (plastic eggs with a toy in one half and a treat in the other) for my little brother. She asked me what they were. I explained and offered to help her choose some toys. She told  me she had three grandchildren. Then she bought five of the eggs! One each for her grandchildren and one each for my brother and me! 

Happiness Shared

Free To Me - A Gift To Them

Six months ago I joined an online couponing/saving website. They post a lot of free samples of products, coupons and some instant-win and other sweepstakes!   I try to enter these sweepstakes as often as possible.   Well! I won a $50 giftcard to Olive Garden recently. Instead of keeping it for myself I sent it, anonymously,  to a couple I know where the husband has been off work due to health problems. So, I know money has been tight and I know a night out would be a real treat for them.   Neither one knew it was me but the wife posted on her Facebook page that, "An angel sent me and my husband a gift-card in the mail today. I dont know who it was but they probably didnt know our ten year anniversary is coming up and now we can afford to go have a nice meal. So, thanks!"   This is something I ... Read Full Story >>

Kindness Is The Medicine

One of my co-workers was recently stressed because his wife is struggling through a period of severe depression triggered by a rebounding of bodily pain from fibromyalgia.  She's also been on furlough from work for a number of years, and doesn't get much opportunity to maintain social ties and a sense of purpose which are often so essential and deeply nourishing.  After listening to him unload his burdens, I decided to do something small to support him and his wife. I don't know his wife very well at all, but wanted to express some warmth and kindness to her, since it so often feels like the universal balm to soothe every ailment. I found out that, like most people, she loves receiving handwritten mail.  So I purchased a card and wrote the following message to her: Dear Nxxxx, I want you to know that you have something very unique and beautiful to offer the ... Read Full Story >>

Letters Of Appreciation

I recently wrote two letter of appreciation. One was to a vehicle rental company and the other was to a vehicle dealership. Both companies treated me with a lot of respect and made me feel like a person of value. They were very professional and caring. 

I wrote long letters of appreciation mentioning all the employees and the wonderful jobs the were doing to their bosses. I made sure I left the letters open so the employees could read them first. 
 
I feel when employees are kind and treat people the way I have been treated the deserve to be told what a good job they are doing. This will, hopefully, continue to motivate them to keep being the good people they are and encourage them to be the best they can be. 
 
A little appreciation goes a long way. I appreciate all they have done. Lets all continue to motivate each other to be kind loving people!
 

Motivational Chocolates

Where I work they were having a competition to get people motivated, and I won two Boxes of chocolates! 
 
I couldn't resist opening one box right there and sharing them with all my colleagues.
 
Everyone loved them and I think those little tasters might inspire them to try and win a box of their own!

Top Ten Kindness Stories of 2012, Story #10 - 8 Things To Do Every Day That Will Make You Happier

1) Thank someone First thing in the morning, send an email thanking or praising someone. Research shows this can brighten your day.   2) Spend money — on someone else Harvard professor Michael Norton, author of Happy Money: The Science of Smarter Spending, explains how spending money on other people can generate more happiness than spending on yourself: 3) Give 5 hugs People assigned to give or receive hugs 5 times a day ended up happier than the control group. From Sonja Lyubomirsky’s very interesting book, The How of Happiness: In a one-of-a-kind study, students at Pennsylvania State University were assigned to two groups. The first group was instructed to give or receive a minimum of five hugs per day over the course of four weeks and to record the details. The hugs had to be front-to-front (nonsexual) hugs, using both arms of both participants; however, the length and strength of hug, as well as the placement of hands, were left ... Read Full Story >>

Making Sure to Thank the Referees

I spent my Saturday at the basketball court watching all three of our kids play their games.  My older two had playoffs as they worked to be in the championship game.  During the third game of the day I commented to my husband that these playoff games were getting a little overly rough and competitive and it was making me nervous. As my son's game continued, the fans around us starting making light-hearted comments about the refs' calls - or lack of.  These were the same ref's my son's team has had all season and I think they are a GREAT pair - which I said often during the game.  The refs had a sense of humor and grinned and nodded as the comments continued to come. It was an intense and physical game and I was cheering loudly!  It was a tight game to the end, but my son's team did end ... Read Full Story >>

Cutest Moment of My Day

I live near a bay in Sydney and I go on a bike ride almost every day. I see lots of people riding their bike and others just walking and enjoying the view. On Sundays, there are more people around the bay. I love riding my bike then so that I can give as many smiles as possible.  Today, on may way back home, I noticed a little girl with walking with her mom holding a box of her things. It was so beautiful so see how happy they were. I kept riding my bike and I noticed a shiny necklace on the ground. I didn't do anything at first, but then I thought maybe it belonged to the little girl. I turned around to pick up the necklace. Luckily, it was still there, but for a second I thought that maybe it did not belong to her. I decided to go ... Read Full Story >>

Fourth Grade Kindness Adventures

Recently, our fourth grade class embarked on some adventures in kindness!  We all hid notes with kind messages for our family and friends to find.   One student helped his mom get her bags out of her car. Another helped her mom cook dinner. After dinner, another classmate helped his dad do the dishes.  While skiing, one of us helped someone get back up after they fell. And several of us helped our parents clean the house.  What a memorable class field trip in kindness! We wonder where the ripples will go... :)

The Christmas Bike Conundrum

The Enzian Art House in Florida was showing movies in the park. One evening, a few weeks before Christmas, they showed The Christmas Story and had a raffle with a girl's bike as the prize.  It was painfully cute with iridescent streamers, flowers, butterflies, an adorable bell, all designed to delight a five year old. But fifty year old me won it! This led to a bit of a conundrum as I didn't have kids or grand-kids to give it to.  I wanted the bike to go to someone who didn't have the opportunity to own such a wonderful thing. I contacted the shelter (where I occasionally volunteered in the kitchen) and while there was a big need for a sweet bike there was also the potential for it creating strife.  I sought else where until I found out about a couple in our church who had been going through hard times in their ... Read Full Story >>

Allowing others the opportunity to go first

I live in Bangalore, India, where the traffic is heavy for most of the day, and drivers can be pretty relentless. When I was in Singapore about seven years ago, I stepped off the curb and quickly jumped back upon seeing a car. To my amazement, the car stopped. I waited. So did the car. Then, the driver waved at me to cross. That was a defining moment for me. That a pedestrian was more important than the car-- something we are just not used to in India. Now, I try to slow down as often as possible and allow pedestrians to cross, or even to invite another car to go ahead of me. And I always wave when someone gives me space to go ahead. These are small courtesies, but something that makes me feel good about creating a small moment of 'feeling good' for the other person. In fact, another way of creating goodwill is ... Read Full Story >>